Many people have an inexplicable fear of the dentist. This means that if an already dreaded visit to the dentist ends up with a statement about needing oral surgery, many people will be a little scared. However, there are certain circumstances that will make it necessary to have an oral surgery performed. Here are some of the conditions that are treated using an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Gilbert AZ.
Problems with the wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth are the third molars. They are located at the back of the mouth and are the last to come out. The most common problem that affects the wisdom teeth is when they become impacted. This happens when the tooth does not come out and gets stuck between the jawbone and the gum. This makes chewing very difficult and results in inflammation of the gums and a lot of pain. The only way to deal with impacted wisdom teeth is removing them. The process of removal involves making incisions to the gum and using surgical instruments to remove the tooth. After the tooth has been extracted, the gum tissue is sutured to allow healing.
Dental implants
The process of getting dental implants to replace lost permanent teeth is carried out by an oral surgeon. During this process, screws that are made of titanium and used to replace the tooth roots are attached to the jawbone. An incision is made on the gums exposing the jawbone for the process of attaching the tooth roots. The gum tissue is then sutured, and the healing process starts. When the roots have integrated into the mouth, a stump will be attached to support a crown.
TMD
Another dental problem that can be fixed with Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Gilbert AZ is temporal mandibular disorder (TMD). This is a complication whereby the jaws become misaligned leading to headaches, swelling of the face and problems when chewing food. The problem can be fixed by manipulating the muscles that support the TMD joint.
These are just a few of the problems that are fixed by Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Gilbert AZ. Other problems include cleft lips and palate in babies, broken facial bones and fractured jaws.
